Post by --vexx-- on Mar 3, 2005 18:06:57 GMT -5
Microsoft today on March 3rd announced that video game developers Yoshiki Okamoto, President & CEO of Game Republic, and Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Creator and Co-founder, Q Entertainment Inc. have aligned with Microsoft Game Studios to develop exclusive next-generation Xbox games.
Okamoto has pioneered franchises like Street Fighter and Resident Evil. In July 2003, he founded Game Republic, where he and his team have next generation Xbox exclusive titles currently in development. Mizuguchi, who founded Q Entertainment in 2003, is the creative force behind Sega Rally Championship, Rez, Space Channel 5, and most recently, Lumines for the PSP.
"My goal in creating these games is to make completely fresh and riveting experiences that gamers have never had before," said Okamoto. "With the next-generation Xbox platform, I can turn this vision into a reality."
"By combining various factors, including exciting storylines, action, graphics and music, I've created video games that have brought gamers the ultimate fun in gaming," said Mizuguchi. "Now, I hope to create games that will give gamers the most emotional and thrilling gaming experience possible - joy, thrills, sympathy and speed. The power and advanced technologies of the next-generation Xbox platform will enable winning games with powerful emotions, high-quality graphics and sound."
"We are excited for Mizuguchi-san and Okamoto-san to develop next generation Xbox games unlike anything the world has ever seen," said Peter Moore, Microsoft Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Marketing and Publishing. "Gamers will be riveted by the experiences enabled by such creators when given the proper canvas and tools."
We got a chance to pose a few questions to Shane Kim, Managing Director of Microsoft Game Studios today about the deal, too, and so far he's incredibly enthusiastic about the deal. When quizzed about the potential problem in the fact that Q Entertainment has a very small staff, Kim commented, “We’re not too worried on getting Mizuguchi-san’s focus on this thing. He’s going to be working on things we think are important. So, we’re not too worried on getting the titles done themselves.”<br>
When asked about the length of the exclusive deal, Kim responded, “It’s not a lifetime deal or anything like that. The better point, probably, is that these guys are making some bit commitments to work with us, especially in Japan. And, we have to be honest about the relative success we’ve had in this generation in Japan. These guys are making a really big commitment to work with us in Japan and I think things are going to be way more successful this time around in Japan and I’m hoping that our working with the two will end up being a long term relationship.”<br>
In terms of sales numbers, Kim seemed confident that despite the less than stellars sales of Mizuguchi's past products (and their reputation for being niche games).
“Mizuguchi-san’s impact is going to go beyond the titles themselves. We think that the title he works on will be critically acclaimed and recognized in the industry as such. Of course, we think that they will do well commercially, that’s a big part of why we’re working with him. One of things that we didn’t do this generation is that we didn’t release a lot of first party titles or establish a lot of first party relationships in Japan. And this is a case where Mizuguchi, Okamoto, and Sakaguchi-san is going to be a huge advantage in Japan.”<br>
And if that wasn't enough, Kim also dropped some hints about the future of Microsoft's next console. “I can tell you that you’ll be hearing a lot more news like this up to E3 and I’m really excited about what we’re doing across the board.”<br>
--vexx--
Okamoto has pioneered franchises like Street Fighter and Resident Evil. In July 2003, he founded Game Republic, where he and his team have next generation Xbox exclusive titles currently in development. Mizuguchi, who founded Q Entertainment in 2003, is the creative force behind Sega Rally Championship, Rez, Space Channel 5, and most recently, Lumines for the PSP.
"My goal in creating these games is to make completely fresh and riveting experiences that gamers have never had before," said Okamoto. "With the next-generation Xbox platform, I can turn this vision into a reality."
"By combining various factors, including exciting storylines, action, graphics and music, I've created video games that have brought gamers the ultimate fun in gaming," said Mizuguchi. "Now, I hope to create games that will give gamers the most emotional and thrilling gaming experience possible - joy, thrills, sympathy and speed. The power and advanced technologies of the next-generation Xbox platform will enable winning games with powerful emotions, high-quality graphics and sound."
"We are excited for Mizuguchi-san and Okamoto-san to develop next generation Xbox games unlike anything the world has ever seen," said Peter Moore, Microsoft Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Marketing and Publishing. "Gamers will be riveted by the experiences enabled by such creators when given the proper canvas and tools."
We got a chance to pose a few questions to Shane Kim, Managing Director of Microsoft Game Studios today about the deal, too, and so far he's incredibly enthusiastic about the deal. When quizzed about the potential problem in the fact that Q Entertainment has a very small staff, Kim commented, “We’re not too worried on getting Mizuguchi-san’s focus on this thing. He’s going to be working on things we think are important. So, we’re not too worried on getting the titles done themselves.”<br>
When asked about the length of the exclusive deal, Kim responded, “It’s not a lifetime deal or anything like that. The better point, probably, is that these guys are making some bit commitments to work with us, especially in Japan. And, we have to be honest about the relative success we’ve had in this generation in Japan. These guys are making a really big commitment to work with us in Japan and I think things are going to be way more successful this time around in Japan and I’m hoping that our working with the two will end up being a long term relationship.”<br>
In terms of sales numbers, Kim seemed confident that despite the less than stellars sales of Mizuguchi's past products (and their reputation for being niche games).
“Mizuguchi-san’s impact is going to go beyond the titles themselves. We think that the title he works on will be critically acclaimed and recognized in the industry as such. Of course, we think that they will do well commercially, that’s a big part of why we’re working with him. One of things that we didn’t do this generation is that we didn’t release a lot of first party titles or establish a lot of first party relationships in Japan. And this is a case where Mizuguchi, Okamoto, and Sakaguchi-san is going to be a huge advantage in Japan.”<br>
And if that wasn't enough, Kim also dropped some hints about the future of Microsoft's next console. “I can tell you that you’ll be hearing a lot more news like this up to E3 and I’m really excited about what we’re doing across the board.”<br>
--vexx--